Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 17, 2022

 

Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment

18 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19 and plan to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections that become more common in the fall and winter seasons.  

"With Thanksgiving just a week away, New Yorkers must remain vigilant and continue to use all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Be sure to stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Earlier this month, Governor Hochul launched a new public awareness campaign featuring New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaking directly to New Yorkers about three viruses - Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), flu and COVID-19 - now circulating in the state with similar symptoms and the potential to cause serious illness. Produced by the New York State Department of Health, the videos include a short clip and a longer version geared toward parents; and a version aimed specifically at health care providers.     

Governor Hochul continues to remind New Yorkers that children ages 5 and older may now receive the bivalent booster shots that are recommended to increase protection against COVID-19. 

The Governor also urges New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. To schedule an appointment for a booster, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or healthcare provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations.  

In addition, Governor Hochul encourages New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is widespread across New York State. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both circulating, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.  

The State Department of Health is continuing its annual public education campaign, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. Advertisements in both English and Spanish language began running last month. 

For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:    

• Cases Per 100k - 22.57
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 18.47
• Test Results Reported - 68,812
• Total Positive - 4,411 
• Percent Positive - 5.83%**     
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 5.88%**      
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,686 (-79)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 407
• Patients in ICU - 274 (-6)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 107 (3)
• Total Discharges - 362,882 (444)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 18
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 59,185

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.       

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.      

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.  

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 75,507

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings. 

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:      

Borough	Monday,   November   14, 2022	Tuesday,   November   15, 2022	Wednesday,   November   16, 2022
Bronx	6.75%	6.62%	6.83%
Kings	6.24%	6.18%	6.27%
New York	5.86%	5.88%	6.07%
Queens	6.91%	6.83%	6.88%
Richmond	5.68%	5.49%	5.43%

MAYOR ADAMS' STATEMENT ON SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI STEPPING DOWN FROM LEADERSHIP POST IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she would be stepping down from her leadership post in the U.S. House of Representatives:

 

“As the first woman to lead a political party in Congress, Speaker Nancy Pelosi shattered the highest glass ceiling and opened doors for generations to come. For nearly four decades, Speaker Pelosi has been an immeasurable champion for justice, equity, and democratic values. It is because of her fearless leadership that we are a better and stronger nation. I, along with millions of Americans, thank Speaker Pelosi for her devotion to public service and the endless inspiration she has provided to young girls and women across the nation.”

DASHBOARD UPDATE: NYC Comptroller Releases New Monthly Data on Department of Correction Operations

 

Ahead of Nunez status conference, Lander sends letter in support of receivership over Rikers

Ahead of the status conference on Thursday in the Nunez v. City of New York matter, the New York City Comptroller’s Office released a monthly update to its Department of Correction (DOC) Dashboard, available here. The dashboard monitors pervasive issues in the City’s jails, including staff absenteeism, missed medical appointments, and incidents of violence among detained people and staff. It also tracks the jail population every month, which rose to 5,940 people in custody. The detained population remains well above the capacity of the borough-based jails intended to replace the notorious complex. 

The DOC data for October shows little progress on the key metrics available for the dashboard: 

• At the start of November, the jail population was 5,940, 1% uptick from the prior month. 
• Average daily uniformed staff headcount continues to decline, with DOC employing under 7,000 officers for the second month compared to just under 10,000 prior to the pandemic’s outset. 
• Uniformed sick leave held steady with 12% of officers on sick leave for the fourth consecutive month, and a one percentage point decline in the number of medically restricted staff. 
• Use of force within the city’s jails remains high at over 34 incidents per 100 persons in custody for the last quarter, 80% higher than the pre-pandemic average. 
• Assaults on staff and stabbing incidents increased from the prior month; stabbings are 4.5 times more frequent than the 2019 average. 
• Individuals with serious mental illness still comprise 18% of the overall population, increasing to 1,063 persons this month. 

The Comptroller’s office has closely tracked pervasive issues in the City’s jail system dating back to 2014, and in August 2022, Comptroller Lander produced the Department of Correction dashboard to provide detailed, timely metrics for the press and public to assess progress on addressing ongoing management issues at DOC. Comptroller Lander was the first citywide elected official to call for a federal receiver to oversee reforms at the jail complex, citing rising violence, deaths in custody, and lack of progress on key reforms.  

Ahead of the status conference, Comptroller Lander sent a letter to Judge Laura Swain outlining the alarming number of deaths, consistent staffing mismanagement, and overwhelming number of violent incidents. The letter notes that the Comptroller’s office settled and adjusted over $28 million in Rikers-related claims in FY 2021, a snapshot of the fiscal risks to the City posed by mismanagement of the jail system. The Comptroller urged the appointment of a federal receiver empowered to make structural and management changes in the jails. 

In the letter, Comptroller Lander expresses “serious concerns with the lack of progress made by the Department of Correction (DOC) to comply with the Nunez consent judgment to address the violence afflicting New York City jails and create a functional system that keeps both those in custody and the staff charged with their care safe. […] DOC has not demonstrated the ability to end the violence on Rikers Island, which the data shows continuing at an alarming rate.”  

Read the letter in full here.